Frederic Melton
A cheese scoop is a serving piece designed for runny or soft cheeses, such as Brie or Stilton. It is used to scoop out a mound of cheese from the centre of the cylinder without disturbing the rind. The cheese is then placed on a plate and can be enjoyed on a cracker or with bread. An example of a cheese scoop is the Victorian cheese scoop, which is likely from Sweden or Denmark and dates back to the first half of the 19th century. In addition to cheese scoops, there are various other tools designed for cutting and serving cheese, such as cheese knives, cheese wires, cheese planes, rind cutters, and cheese spreaders.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Serving runny or soft cheeses, such as Brie or Stilton |
| Placement | The scoop stays with the cheese |
| Design | Designed to scoop from the centre without disturbing the rind |
| Use | Dig into the centre of the cheese cylinder and scoop out a mound, then place on a plate |
| Serving Suggestions | Enjoy on a cracker with mango chutney or drizzled with honey on crusty bread |
| Value | Monetary value depends on the material they're made from |
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What You'll Learn
- Use a cheese scoop to serve runny cheeses, like Brie
- Cheese scoops are designed for scooping from the centre of the cheese
- Use a cheese knife to cut a piece of cheese, then pick it up with a cheese fork
- Hard cheese knives are made for cutting through a whole wheel or wedge of hard cheese
- A rind cutter is used to score the rind of a hard cheese, making it easier to open
Use a cheese scoop to serve runny cheeses, like Brie
A cheese scoop is a serving piece that is used to hold together crumbly semi-soft cheese. It is a short curved blade attached to a long handle, similar to a garden trowel. It is around 6 to 8 inches long.
When serving runny cheeses like Brie, you can use a cheese scoop to get a variety of textures on your cracker or piece of bread. Run a knife around the perimeter of the cheese and down the centre of the wheel. Peel back half of the rind and use the cheese scoop to scoop out the cheese. You can also use a spoon or a rounded knife.
The way you portion cheese changes its flavour and texture. Softer cheeses like Brie change in texture as you move from the interior to the exterior. You want to get all of that delicious textural contrast in one bite. Cheeses also change in flavour from edge to centre. On aged cheeses, the portion closest to the rind might taste earthy and nutty, while the innermost section is sweeter and milder. To get the fullest picture of the cheese and the most flavourful bite, you want to taste as much of it at once as possible.
If you are serving a whole wheel of Brie, you can also cut it into equal wedges. Cut the sides of the wedges from the exterior to the point, forming skinny triangular slices.
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Cheese scoops are designed for scooping from the centre of the cheese
To use a cheese scoop, start by digging into the centre of the cheese cylinder with the scoop. Then, simply scoop out a mound of cheese and place it on a plate. You can then enjoy your cheese with crackers, bread, or any other accompaniments of your choice.
It is worth noting that cheese scoops are not the only tools designed for serving cheese. There are various types of cheese knives, each built for a specific purpose. For example, a soft cheese knife, also known as an open-work blade knife, has holes in the blade to prevent soft cheeses from sticking. A gorgonzola cheese knife, on the other hand, is designed for spreading creamy cheeses while also having a sharp blade to cut through cheese rinds. A pronged cheese knife, or forked-tipped spear, is a multipurpose tool that allows you to cut a piece of cheese and then use the prongs to pick it up for serving.
Additionally, a cheese wire or bow knife is used for cutting delicate soft cheeses without crushing or spreading them too far. A cheese plane is used to achieve thin slices of cheese, and a rind cutter is essential for scoring the rind of hard cheeses, especially those with a strong odour.
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Use a cheese knife to cut a piece of cheese, then pick it up with a cheese fork
To cut a piece of cheese and then pick it up with a cheese fork, you can use a pronged cheese knife, also known as a forked-tipped spear. This type of cheese knife is a multipurpose tool that allows you to cut a piece of cheese and then pick it up with the prongs at the end for serving or plating. The upward-curled narrow blade and sharp edge allow you to cut through the cheese, while the prongs enable you to pick up the cheese without it sticking to the knife.
When using a cheese knife to cut cheese, it is important to choose the right type of knife for the specific cheese you are serving. Different types of cheese knives are designed for different types of cheese. For example, soft cheese knives, also known as open-work blade knives, have holes in the blade to prevent soft cheeses from sticking. On the other hand, hard cheese knives are typically larger and are made for pressing downward and cutting through a whole wheel or wedge of aged hard cheese. They often have handles on both ends to allow for even pressure distribution.
Once you have selected the appropriate cheese knife for the type of cheese you are working with, you can begin cutting. If you are using a pronged cheese knife, you can cut a piece of cheese and then use the prongs to pick it up and place it on a plate or serving dish. If you are using a different type of cheese knife, such as a soft cheese knife, you can use the holes in the blade to push the piece of cheese off of the knife and onto your serving dish.
After cutting and serving the cheese, you may want to use a cheese fork to pick up the individual pieces of cheese from the plate or serving dish. Cheese forks are useful for picking up cut pieces of cheese, especially when serving guests. This ensures that the cheese can be easily accessed and enjoyed by everyone.
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Hard cheese knives are made for cutting through a whole wheel or wedge of hard cheese
Hard cheeses, such as Stilton, Gorgonzola, and Parmesan, are best cut with a specialised hard cheese knife. These knives are designed to cut through a whole wheel or wedge of hard cheese. They are typically the largest in a cheese knife set and feature a long, straight blade with a sharp edge. The handles are often found at either end of the knife to allow for even pressure distribution when pressing down.
When serving hard cheeses, it is important to use the correct utensils. A rind cutter, for example, is essential for cutting through the rind of hard cheeses, especially those that are stinky and rind-washed. A cheese plane, on the other hand, is used to achieve thinly sliced pieces of hard cheese. It has a spatula-like structure that collects the sliced cheese, making it easy to plate or serve.
In addition to the aforementioned tools, a cheese scoop is a serving piece designed for scooping out soft, runny cheeses, such as Brie or Stilton. It is used by starting at the centre of the cheese and scooping out a mound, which can then be placed on a plate and enjoyed with crackers or bread.
For soft cheeses, a soft cheese knife, also known as an open-work blade knife, is used. This knife features holes in the blade to prevent soft cheeses from sticking. A gorgonzola cheese knife is similar but features a sharp blade to cut through cheese rinds. A slim blade knife is another option for soft cheeses, as it has very little surface area, preventing the cheese from sticking to the blade.
Each type of cheese knife is designed with a specific purpose in mind, enhancing the user experience and making it easier to serve and enjoy cheese.
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A rind cutter is used to score the rind of a hard cheese, making it easier to open
A rind cutter, also known as a cheese scoop, is an essential tool when serving stinky cheese varieties, which are typically rind-washed. To use a rind cutter, pierce the rind at one edge of the cheese and drag it neatly across the surface of the rind. This scoring technique is particularly useful for hard cheeses, making it easier to open and slice.
Cheese scoops are serving pieces, with the scoop often remaining with the cheese on the plate or board. They are particularly useful for soft, runny, or crumbly cheeses, such as Brie or Stilton, as they can be used to scoop out a portion from the centre of the cheese without disturbing the rind.
A cheese knife set is also useful for serving cheese. A soft cheese knife, or open-work blade knife, has holes in the blade to prevent soft cheeses from sticking. A slim blade knife also prevents sticking due to its narrow shape, and a pronged cheese knife can be used for cutting and serving.
For hard cheeses, a long, straight-bladed knife with a sharp edge is used to cut through a whole wheel or wedge. These knives often have handles at either end to distribute pressure evenly.
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Frequently asked questions
A cheese scoop is a serving piece used to scoop out a mound of cheese from the centre of a cheese cylinder without disturbing the rind.
Cheese scoops are typically used for runny or soft cheeses, such as Brie or Stilton.
Starting at the centre of the cheese cylinder, dig in and scoop out a mound of cheese. Place the mound on a plate and enjoy it with crackers or bread.
Other tools that can be used to serve cheese include a cheese knife, a cheese spreader, a cheese wire, a cheese plane, a rind cutter, a cheese grater, and a cheese fork.
